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This Day in History – June 10, 1969 – The X-15 gets a place in history

10 June 1969: The U.S. Air Force donated the first North American Aviation X-15, serial number 56-6670, to the Smithsonian Institution for display at the National Air and Space Museum. The first of three X-15A hypersonic research rocketplanes built by North American for the Air Force and the National Advisory Committee (NACA, the predecessor of NASA), 56-6670 made the first glide flight and

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Rees, Clifford H., Jr.

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  • Rees, Clifford H., Jr.

Clifford H. Rees, Jr.

Preferred Name: Ted
Date of Birth: December 11, 1936
Highest Military Grade: 0-9 – Lieutenant General
Hometown: Newport News, VA
Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. - before
Biography
Pilot Information

“Lieutenant General Clifford H. “Ted” Rees Jr.’s last assignment was a vice commander in chief, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, with headquarters at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany.

General Rees was born in 1936, in Newport News, Va. He attended schools throughout the world as an Air Force dependent, graduating from Institut Montana, Zugerberg, Switzerland, in 1954. He earned a bachelor of science degree in foreign service from Georgetown University in 1958 and a master’s degree in political science from Auburn University in 1969. The general completed Air Command and Staff College In 1969, Air War College in 1978, and Harvard University’s Executive Program in National and International Security in August 1984.

He was commissioned through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program in 1958. After completing pilot training in May 1960, he received transition training in F-100s and combat readiness training en route to the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 354th Tactical Fighter Wing, Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, S.C. He completed F-105 transition training in May 1963 and was assigned to the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa. From June 1964 to September 1966 he flew 100 combat missions over North Vietnam and 35 combat missions in Laos from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.

Upon returning to the United States, he served as an F-105 instructor pilot and chief of tactical operations, 835th Air Division, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. After graduation from Air Command and Staff College, he was assigned as operations officer, 6th Special Operations Squadron, England Air Force Base, La., flying A-37s. In June 1971 he moved to the Air Force Military Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, where he served as chief of the Fighter and Reconnaissance Manning Section.

In January 1974 he qualified in F-4s and was assigned as operations officer, 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron, and later as commander, 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron, Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. From May 1975 to August 1977 General Rees was chief, Tactical Fighter and Reconnaissance Operations and Training Division, at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Langley Air Force Base, Va. Upon graduation from the Air War College, General Rees was named chief, House Liaison Office, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

General Rees returned to the Air Force Military Personnel Center in May 1980 as assistant for colonel assignments. In April 1982 he became Air Force deputy assistant deputy chief of staff, manpower and personnel for military personnel, and vice commander of the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center. In September 1982 the general returned to Washington, D.C., as deputy director of legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force. He became director of legislative liaison, Office of the Secretary of the Air Force, in June 1984. As director he advised the secretary and all principal civilian and military officials of the Department of the Air Force concerning legislative affairs. In August 1986 General Rees was assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., as commander of the U.S. Air Force Air Defense Weapons Center. He assumed his present duties in May 1988.

The general is a command pilot with more than 3,200 flying hours. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Air Medal with 11 oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal and several unit citations.

General Rees was also U.S. representative to the International Council of Military Sports (le Conseil International du Sport Militaire – CISM), an organization of 84 countries that sponsors competition in 27 individual and team sports events. He is a member of the council’s executive committee. General Rees served as national president of Delta Phi Epsilon, professional foreign service fraternity, from June 1984 to July 1986.” (1)

Source (1): https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/105836/lieutenant-general-clifford-h-ted-rees-jr/

Units Assigned

  • 1960-1963 356th TFS, Myrtle Beach AFB, SC (F-100)
  • 1963-1966 44th TFS, Kadena AB, Okinawa (F-105)
  • 1966 469th TFS, Korat RTAFB, Thailand (F-105)
  • 1966-1968 835th AD, McConnell AFB, KS (F-105)
  • 1968-1970 6th SOS, England AFB, LA (A-37)
  • 1970-1972 AFMPC, Randolph AFB, TX (T-39)
  • 1973 4th TFS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand (F-4D)
  • 1973-1974 421st TFS, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand (F-4E)
  • 1986-1988 ADWC, Tyndall AFB, FL (F-15)
  • 1988-1992 USAFE, Ramstein AB, FRG (F-15, with 22TFS)

Awards & Decorations

Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal
Legion Of Merit
Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster
Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster
Meritorious Service Award
Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Air Medal
Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal

Flight Info

F-10
F-105
A-37
T-39
F-4D
F-4E
F-15

Flight Hours: 3200

Military & Civilian Education

Military Education:

  • 1969 Air Command and Staff College
  • 1978 Air War College
  • 1982 Diplomatic and Military Seminar, Harvard University

Civilian Education:

  • 1954 High School: Institut Montana, Zugerberg, Switzerland
  • 1958 B.S.F.S., School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University,
  • 1969 MA/International Affairs, Auburn University, 1969

Wall of Honor Location

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